Electric wire, electric wire connection method and wire harness

ABSTRACT

A first marking and a second marking, indicating a connection form, are provided on a covering sheath at a connection position of a first wire serving as a main wire. Therefore, an operation is carried out at a region between the first marking and the second marking of the first wire according to an operation form indicated by the second marking. Therefore, the predetermined form of operation can be carried out at the predetermined position of the first wire.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a wire, a wire connecting method and a wireharness.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional ordinary method of connecting a branch wire to a mainwire, first, a distal end 100 a of the branch wire 100 is exposed, and acut 102 is formed in a sheath 101 a at a connecting region of the mainwire 101 as shown in FIG. 11(A).

Then, as shown in FIG. 11(B), the sheath 101 a of the main wire 101 isshifted a distance of about 20 mm to about 30 mm, thereby exposing aconnecting portion 103, and the distal end 100 a of the branch wire 100is connected to the connecting portion 103 by soldering orpress-clamping.

In this case, the position in which the cut 102 is to be formed in themain wire 101 need to be determined by measuring the length each timethis operation is effected, and this is cumbersome.

Therefore, it has now been brought into practice to provide a mark onthe wire connecting region (see, for example, JP-A-2002-109976 (Pages 3and 4, FIG. 2)).

For example, in the case of connecting another wire by press-contactingto a desired wire among a plurality of wires packed into a bundle, amarking, indicative of the wire to be subjected to the press-contactingand also of a press-contacting position, is provided on thepress-contacting portion or its vicinity, and the above another wire isconnected by press-contacting to this wire.

By doing so, an error in selecting the wire to be connected can beprevented, and also the connection can be effected at the predeterminedposition, so that the efficiency of the operation can be improved.

In the above-mentioned technique, however, merely the connecting regionat the wire is indicated, and therefore a connection form and otherssuch as an operation form can not be indicated, and each time theoperation is carried out, the operation need to be effected whileconfirming a manual, and this is cumbersome.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been made in view of the above problem, and itsobject is to provide a wire, a wire connecting method and a wireharness, in which a proper operation can be carried out while easilyrecognizing the contents of the operation to be applied to the wire.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, a wire of the presentinvention has an indicating member which indicates an operation region,and is provided on a covering sheath, and the indicating member includesa first marking and a second marking which are provided at apredetermined interval along a longitudinal direction of the coveringsheath, and the first marking indicates an operation position, and thesecond marking indicates an operation form.

(2) Further, preferably, the first marking of the wire of the above (1)indicates the operation position lying between the first marking and thesecond marking.

When the wire is constructed as in the above (1) or the above (2), forexample, an operation whose operation form is indicated by the secondmarking is carried out at the region between the first marking and thesecond marking which are the indicating member provided on the coveringsheath of the wire, and therefore the predetermined operation can becarried out errorlessly at the predetermined position without consultinga manual or the like.

(3) Further, preferably, the first marking of the wire, constructed asin the above (1) or the above (2) indicates a connecting position towhich a branch wire is to be connected, and the second marking indicatesthe number of the branch wire and an installation direction thereof.

When the wire is constructed as in the above (3), at the region betweenthe first and second markings provided on the covering sheath of themain wire to which the branch wire is to be connected, the branch wirewhose number is indicated by the second marking is connected in theinstallation direction indicated by the second marking, and therefore aplurality of branch wires can be connected to the main wire at thepredetermined position in the predetermined direction.

(4) Further, preferably, at least one of the first marking and thesecond marking of the wire, constructed as in any one of the above (1)to (3), is formed by a heat-sensitive paint.

In the wire constructed as in the above (4), at least one of the firstmarking and the second marking is formed by the heat-sensitive paint,and therefore when solder is used for connecting the branch wire to themain wire, the portion, formed by the heat-sensitive paint, is changedin color. Therefore, imperfect soldering, the omission of the solderingor the like can be easily detected. Here, the heat-sensitive paint meansa paint which is changed in color upon application of heat of above apredetermined temperature.

(5) In order to achieve the above object, a wire connecting method ofthe present invention for connecting a second wire, serving as a branchwire, to a predetermined position of a first wire serving as a main wirecomprising the steps of beforehand providing a first marking and asecond marking at a predetermined interval along a longitudinaldirection of a covering sheath of the first wire; connecting the secondwire according to a connecting position which is indicated by the firstmarking, and lies between the first marking and the second marking; andinstalling the second wire according to a connection form indicated bythe second marking.

In the wire connecting method constructed as in the above (5), the firstmarking and the second marking are beforehand provided on the coveringsheath at the connection position of the first wire serving as the mainwire to which the second wire (serving as the branch wire) is to beconnected. Then, the second wire is connected to the first wire at theregion between the first marking and the second marking. At this time,the connection is effected according to the connection form indicated bythe second marking, and therefore the second wire can be connected inthe predetermined form to the predetermined position of the first wirewithout consulting a manual or the like.

(6) In order to achieve the above object, a wire harness of the presentinvention is formed by the wire connecting method of the above (5).

In the wire harness of the above (6), the first marking and the secondmarking, indicating the connection form, are provided on the coveringsheath at the connecting position of the first wire serving as the mainwire, and therefore at the region between the first marking and thesecond marking of the first wire, the second wire (serving as the branchwire) is connected according to the connection form indicated by thesecond marking. Therefore, the second wire can be connected to thepredetermined position of the first wire without consulting a manual orthe like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a wire, a wire connecting methodand a wire harness according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is view explanatory of a first marking and a second marking;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a condition in which a branch wireis connected to the wire;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a wire, a wire connecting methodand a wire harness according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a wire, a wire connecting methodand a wire harness according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are explanatory views showing a wire, a wireconnecting method and a wire harness according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a wire, a wire connecting methodand a wire harness according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) are explanatory views showing a wire, a wireconnecting method and a wire harness according to a sixth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 9(A) to 9(D) are examples of the first marking;

FIGS. 10(A) to 10(C) are examples of the second marking; and

FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) are explanatory views showing a conventionalordinary wire connecting method.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a wire (first wire), 11 acovering sheath, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 and 26 a first marking (indicatingmember), 30, 31, 34, 35, 37 and 38 a second marking (indicating member),40 a branch wire (second wire), and 60 a wire harness.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according to afirst embodiment of the present invention, will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of thefirst embodiment of the wire of the present invention, FIG. 2 is anexplanatory view showing the first embodiment of the wire connectingmethod of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of aconnecting portion.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the wire 10A serving as a first wire according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, a first marking 20 and asecond marking 30 are provided on a covering sheath 11, and are arrangedat a predetermined interval. The first marking 20 indicates an operationposition. More specifically, the first marking 20 indicates that theoperation position lies between the first marking 20 and the secondmarking 30, and this first marking has a portion 20 a indicating one endlimit of an operation range 12.

On the other hand, the second marking 30 indicates the other end limitof the operation range 12, and also indicates an operation form.

As shown in FIG. 2, two rings 30 a, 30 a are provided, and the ring 30 aindicates that contents of the operation are the operation forconnecting branch wires 40 which are second wires. At the same time, theprovision of the two rings 30 a indicates that the number of branchwires 40A to be connected is two.

Therefore, in the wire connecting method of the present invention, thecovering sheath 11 of the wire 10A (which is the main wire) is cutwithin the operation range 12 lying between the first marking 20 and thesecond marking 30, thereby providing an exposed portion 13 as shown inFIG. 2.

Distal ends 41 of the two branch wires 40A are superposed on thisexposed portion 13, and for example, a terminal 52, provided within ahousing 51 of a joint connector 50, is press-fastened, therebyconnecting the wire 10A and the branch wires 40A together in apress-clamped manner. In this manner, the wire harness 60A is formed.

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, wire connecting methodand wire harness, the operation whose operation form is indicated by thesecond marking 30 is carried out between the first marking 20 and thesecond marking 30 which are the indicating member provided on thecovering sheath 11 of the wire 10A, and therefore the predeterminedoperation can be carried out at the predetermined position without amistake.

At this time, it is not necessary to see other materials such as amanual, and therefore the wire harness 60A can be easily formed.

Next, a wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according toa second embodiment of the present invention, will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of thesecond embodiment of the wire of the present invention.

Those portions identical to those of the above-mentioned embodiment willbe designated by identical reference numerals, respectively, andrepeated explanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of (here, three) pairs of first markings21 a, 21 b, 21 c and second markings 31 a, 31 b, 31 c are provided on acovering sheath 11 of the wire 10B of the second embodiment of thepresent invention. Each of the first markings 21 a, 21 b, 21 c indicatesthat an operation position lies between the first marking and thecorresponding second marking 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and also each firstmarking has a portion indicating one end limit of an operation range 12a, 12 b, 12 c.

The second markings 31 a, 31 b, 31 c have respective described rings 32,and therefore each operation form is a connecting operation. Two rings32 are described only at the central marking 31 b, and therefore it willbe appreciated that there are two branch wires 40B to be connected.

At the same time, a mark 22, described at the first marking 21,corresponds to a mark 33 described at an end-adjacent portion of thebranch wire 40B which is to be connected relative to this first marking21.

For example, the mark 22 a of the first marking 21 a and the mark 33 aof the branch wire 40B (which correspond to the left connectingposition) both have a right-upper oblique-line hatching pattern. At thecentral connecting position, the two marks 22 b and 33 b both have aright-lower oblique-line hatching pattern, and at the right connectingposition, the two marks 22 c and 33 c both have a dotted pattern.

The wire connecting method of the present invention for connecting thewire 10B and the branch wires 40B at each of the operation positions 12a, 12 b, 12 c is totally identical to the method described above for thefirst embodiment, and therefore explanation thereof is omitted.

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, wire connecting methodand wire harness, the operation is carried out according to the firstmarkings 21 and the contents of the marks 32 described at the secondmarkings 31, and by doing so, the proper connecting operations can becarried out even in the case where the branch wires 40B are connectedrespectively to the plurality of portions of the single wire 10B.

At this time, the connecting operation is carried out in such a mannerthat the mark 22, provided on each connecting portion of the wire 10B,coincides with the mark 33 provided on the branch wire 40B, andtherefore a mistake can be prevented. And besides, it is not necessaryto see other materials such as a manual, and therefore the wire harness60B can be easily formed.

Next, a wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according toa third embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the wireaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Those portions identical to those of the above-mentioned embodimentswill be designated by identical reference numerals, respectively, andrepeated explanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first marking 23 and a second marking 34 areprovided on a covering sheath 11 of the wire 10C of the third embodimentof the present invention. The first marking 23 has a hatching of apredetermined width, and indicates an operation range 12. The secondmarking 34 consists of two arrows 34 a, 34 a, and indicates that thenumber of branch wires (not shown) to be connected to the wire 10C istwo and that the branch wires should are installed from the right.Therefore, the branch wires are installed in the right direction fromthe hatching portion defining the operation range 12.

The wire connecting method of connecting the wire 10C and the branchwires together at the operation position 12 is totally identical to thatdescribed above for the first embodiment, and therefore explanationthereof is omitted.

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, the wire connectingmethod and wire harness, the operation is carried out according to thecontents described at the first and second markings 23 and 34, and bydoing so, the proper connecting operation can be carried out.

At this time, it is not necessary to see other materials such as amanual, and therefore the wire harness 60C can be easily formed.

In the first to third embodiments, the wire 10 a, 10B, 10C and thebranch wire 40A, 40B are connected together by press-clamping, thermalwelding or others, and as a protection form or a waterproofing form forthe connected portions obtained after connecting these wires, thefollowing four can be proposed.

1: To wind an adhesive tape on the connected portion

2: To wind an adhesive tape after soldering the connected portion

3: To cover the connected portion with a water stop material such asbutyl rubber after soldering it and then to wind an adhesive tape

4: To wind an adhesive tape after covering the connected portion with awater stop material such as butyl rubber

By selecting the suitable color, pattern, thickness, length, etc., ofthe rings and arrows, the second markings 30, 31, 34 in the first tothird embodiments can indicate the protection form for the aboveconnected portion so as to indicate the operator of the operation form.

Also, the first marking and the second marking can be described by theuse of a heat-sensitive paint. In this case, when the wire and thebranch wire are joined together by soldering, the color of theheat-sensitive paint is changed by heat of the solder, and therefore theomission of the soldering and the imperfect soldering can be easilydetected.

Next, a wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according toa fourth embodiment of the present invention, will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are enlargedviews of the wire according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

Those portions identical to those of the above-mentioned embodimentswill be designated by identical reference numerals, respectively, andrepeated explanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6(A), a first marking 24 a and a second marking 24 bare provided on a covering sheath 11 of the wire 10D of the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

The first marking 24 a is a ring-like mark, and a hatching portion 36 adefines an operation range.

The second marking 24 b consists of one arrow, and indicates that thenumber of the branch wire 40D to be connected to the wire 10D is one andthat the branch wire is installed from the left. Therefore, the branchwire 40D is installed in the left direction from the hatching portion 36a defining the operation range. The hatching 36 a indicates a form ofoperation for effecting the joining by a press-contacting jointconnector 53.

On the other hand, a first marking 24 a′ similar to the first marking 24a of the wire 10D is provided on the branch wire 40D, and a hatching 36b indicates a form of operation for effecting the joining by thepress-contacting joint connector 53.

Therefore, for connecting the wire 10D and the branch wire 40D together,the wire 10D and the branch wire 40D are arranged in such a manner thatthe operation range 12 a of the wire 10D and the operation range 12 b ofthe branch wire 40D are disposed in registry with each other as shown inFIG. 6(A). Then, the two 10D, 40D are joined by a press-contacting blade54 of the press-contacting joint connector 53 as shown in FIG. 6(B).

Namely, the press-contacting blade 54 is secured to the two operationranges 12 a and 12 b.

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, the wire connectingmethod and wire harness, the operation is carried out according to thecontents described at the first marking 24 a and the second marking 35a, and by doing so, the proper connecting operation can be carried out.

At this time, it is not necessary to see other materials such as amanual, and therefore the wire harness 60D can be easily formed.

Next, a wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according toa fifth embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the fifthembodiment of the wire of the present invention.

Those portions identical to those of the above-mentioned embodimentswill be designated by identical reference numerals, respectively, andrepeated explanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, a first marking 25 and a second marking 37 areprovided on a covering sheath 11 of the wire 10E of the fifth embodimentof the present invention. The first marking 25 is a ring, and the secondmarking 37 has a shading pattern.

Therefore, a region, lying between the first marking 25 and the secondmarking 37, defines an operation range 12. The second marking 37indicates an operation form, and the shading pattern indicates thatthere is the next operation.

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, wire connecting methodand wire harness, the operation is carried out according to the contentsdescribed at the first marking 25 and the second marking 37, and bydoing so, the proper connecting operation can be carried out.

At this time, it is not necessary to see other materials such as amanual, and therefore the wire harness 60E can be easily formed.

Next, a wire, a wire connecting method and a wire harness, according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings. FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) are enlarged viewsof the sixth embodiment of the wire of the present invention. Thoseportions identical to those of the above-mentioned embodiments will bedesignated by identical reference numerals, respectively, and repeatedexplanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8(A), a first marking 26 and a second marking 38 areprovided on a covering sheath 11 of the wire 10F of the sixth embodimentof the present invention.

The first marking 26 is a ring-like mark, and the second marking 38 islettering “D50” indicating an operation form, and “D” indicates awaterproof treatment, and “50” indicates the kind of a waterproof plug.

Therefore, a grommet 70, designated by “50”, is mounted on a regionbetween the first marking 26 and the second marking 38 as shown in FIG.8(B).

As described above, in the above-mentioned wire, the wire connectingmethod and wire harness, the operation is carried out according to thecontents described at the first marking 26 and the second marking 38,and by doing so, the proper connecting operation can be carried out. Atthis time, it is not necessary to see other materials such as a manual,and therefore the operation can be easily carried out.

The wires, the wire connecting methods and the wire harnesses of thepresent invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and suitablechanges, improvements and so on can be made.

For example, although the triangular mark shown in FIG. 9(A) and thering-like mark shown in FIG. 9(B) have been illustrated as the signs ofthe first markings 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, the markings are not limitedto these marks, and any other mark, such as a round shape shown in FIG.9(C) and a square shape shown in FIG. 9(D), can be illustrated.

Also, as the signs of the second markings 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, aring-like mark (shown in FIG. 10(A), varied in thickness and color, abroken-line ring and a dot-and-dash line ring shown respectively inFIGS. 10(B) and 10(C) and so on can be illustrated. Furthermore, acombination of various rings, lettering and so on can be used.

As described above, in the wires, the wire connecting methods and thewire harnesses of the present invention, the operation whose operationform is indicated by the second marking is carried out at the regionindicated by the first marking (which is the indicating member) providedon the covering sheath of the wire, and therefore the predeterminedoperation can be carried out at the predetermined position without amistake.

Although the present invention have been described in detail withreference to the specific embodiments, it will clear to those versed inthe art that various changes and modifications can be added withoutdeparting from the spirits and scope of the present invention.

The present Application is based on Japanese Patent Application (PatentApplication No. 2003-129161) filed on May 7, 2003, and its contents areincorporated herein as a reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The wire, the wire connecting method and the wire harness of the presentinvention are useful not only as a wire, a wire connecting method and awire harness used in a vehicle such as an automobile but also as a wire,a wire connecting method and a wire harness used in various apparatuses.

1. A wire, comprising: an indicating member provided on a coveringsheath of the wire, wherein the indicating member indicates an operationregion; wherein the indicating member includes a first marking and asecond marking which are provided at a predetermined interval along alongitudinal direction of the covering sheath; and wherein the firstmarking indicates an operation position, and the second markingindicates an operation form.
 2. The wire according to claim 1, whereinthe first marking indicates the operation position arranged between thefirst marking and the second marking.
 3. The wire according to claim 2,wherein the first marking indicates a connecting position to which abranch wire is to be connected; and wherein the second marking indicatesthe number of the branch wire and an installation direction of thebranch wire.
 4. The wire according to claim 2, wherein at least one ofthe first marking and the second marking is formed by a heat-sensitivepaint.
 5. The wire according to claim 1, wherein the first markingindicates a connecting position to which a branch wire is to beconnected; and wherein the second marking indicates the number of thebranch wire and an installation direction of the branch wire.
 6. Thewire according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first marking andthe second marking is formed by a heat-sensitive paint.
 7. The wireaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first marking and thesecond marking is formed by a heat-sensitive paint.
 8. The wireconnecting method of connecting a second wire, serving as a branch wire,to a predetermined position of a first wire serving as a main wire; thewire connecting method, comprising: beforehand providing a first markingand a second marking at a predetermined interval along a longitudinaldirection of a covering sheath of the first wire; connecting the secondwire in accordance with a connecting position indicated by the firstmarking; and installing the second wire in accordance with a connectionform indicated by the second marking.
 9. A wire harness formed by a wireconnecting method of connecting a second wire, serving as a branch wire,to a predetermined position of a first wire serving as a main wire;wherein the wire harness is produced by the wire connecting method,comprising: beforehand providing a first marking and a second marking ata predetermined interval along a longitudinal direction of a coveringsheath of the first wire; connecting the second wire in accordance witha connecting position indicated by the first marking; and installing thesecond wire in accordance with a connection form indicated by the secondmarking.